Quorum sensing communication: Bradyrhizobium-Azospirillum interaction via N-acyl-homoserine lactones in the promotion of soybean symbiosis.

Quorum-sensing (QS) mechanisms are important in intra- and inter-specific communication among bacteria. We investigated QS mechanisms in Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain CPAC 15 and Azospirillum brasilense strains Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, used in commercial co-inoculants for the soybean crop in Brazil. A transconjugant of CPAC 15-QS with partial inactivation of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) was obtained and several parameters were evaluated; in vitro, CPAC 15 and the transconjugant differed in growth, but not in biofilm formation, and no differences were observed in the symbiotic performance in vivo. The genome of CPAC 15 carries functional luxI and luxR genes and low amounts of three AHL molecules were detected: 3-OH-C12-AHL, 3-OH-C14-AHL, and 3-oxo-C14-AHL. Multiple copies of luxR-like genes, but not of luxI are present in the genomes of Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, and differences in gene expression were observed when the strains were co-cultured with B. japonicum; we may infer that the luxR-genes of A. brasilense may perceive the AHL molecules of B. japonicum. Soybean symbiotic performance was improved especially by co-inoculation with Ab-V6, which, contrarily to Ab-V5, did not respond to the AHLs of CPAC 15. We concluded that A. brasilense Ab-V5, but not Ab-V6, responded to the QS signals of CPAC 15, and that the synergistic interaction may be credited, at least partially, to the QS interaction. In addition, we confirmed inter- and intra-species QS communication between B. japonicum and A. brasilense and, for Azospirillum, at the strain level, impacting several steps of the symbiosis, from cell growth to plant nodulation and growth.

Application of Landfill Leachate Improves Wheat Nutrition and Yield but Has Minor Effects on Soil Properties.

Landfill leachates, which are potential pollutants, may also carry significant amounts of nutrients that can be recycled by plants. We assessed the nutritional status and yield of wheat ( L.) and properties of a Rhodic Kandiudult soil (depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) after 11 applications of landfill leachate over 4 yr. In the last application, wheat received 0, 32.7, 65.4, 98.1, or 130.8 m ha (875 mg L of nitrogen, N) of leachate and a positive control (90 kg ha of N as urea) 15 d after sowing. Urea increased nitrate (>160 mg kg) in the topsoil (down to 40 cm), whereas landfill leachate increased nitrate (>60 mg kg) only at 40 to 60 cm with the highest dose, suggesting leaching. Urea-treated soil had less negative ΔpH, which might have led to greater retention of nitrate in the topsoil. Sodium (0.02-0.26 cmol Na kg), potassium (0.18-0.82 cmol K kg), and electrical conductivity (0.05-0.14 dS m) all increased with leachate dosage. Treatments did not affect resistance to penetration and clay dispersion. Basal respiration increased with leachate dosage, whereas dehydrogenase activity decreased, suggesting effects on soil microbial metabolism. Microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities were not affected by addition of leachate. Nitrogen nutrition (15.1-22.7 g N kg in flag leaves) and grain yield (1381-2378 kg grain ha) increased with leachate dosage so that the highest dose gave results similar to those for urea-treated plants (2563 kg grain ha). Landfill leachate showed strong potential as source of N for wheat but caused none, or transient, effects on soil properties. However, nitrate from leachate was more leachable than nitrate from urea.

Effect of Landfill Leachate on Cereal Nutrition and Productivity and on Soil Properties.

Landfill leachates carry nutrients, especially N and K, which can be recycled in cropping systems. We applied doses of landfill leachate (0 [Control], 32.7, 65.4, 98.1, and 130.8 m ha) three times in 2008 and three times in 2009 on a clay Rhodic Kandiudult soil. In 2009, black oat ( L.) and corn ( L.) were cropped in succession and assessed for concentration of nutrients in leaves and for shoot biomass and grain yield, respectively. As a positive control, an additional treatment with urea (120 kg ha of N) was studied in corn. Soil was sampled at four depths (down to 60 cm) in three sampling dates to assess chemical and biochemical properties. Concentration of nutrients in leaves, oat biomass (8530-23,240 kg ha), and corn grain yield (4703-8807 kg ha) increased with increasing doses of leachate. There was a transient increase in the concentration of nitrate in soil (3-30 mg kg), increasing the risk of N losses by leaching at doses above 120 kg ha N, as revealed by an estimated N balance in the cropping system. Sodium and K in soil also increased with increasing doses of leachate but decreased as rainfall occurred. The activity of dehydrogenase decreased about 30% from the control to the highest dose of leachate and urea, suggesting an inhibitory effect of mineral N on microbial metabolism. Landfill leachate was promising as a source of N and K for crop productivity and caused minor or transient effects on soil properties.

Control of the Mexican bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus with kaolin / Controle do caruncho-do-feijão Zabrotes subfasciatus com caulim

The Mexican bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) is an important pest of stored beans in tropical regions. The efficiency of kaolin [with or without neem (Azadirachta indica) oil] and diatomaceous earth (DE) (standard treatment) was studied in laboratory aiming to obtain alternatives for chemical control of this insect. Insects were confined in plastic vials containing beans treated with kaolin (2, 4 and 8g kg-1), kaolin + neem [2g kg-1(5 percent neem oil)], diatomaceous earth (1g kg-1) and control. Mortality of adult insects, number of eggs and F1generation beetles emergency were assessed. Kaolin caused mortality of Z. subfasciatus, however higher periods and doses than DE were necessary to promote high mortality (100 percent or close). Kaolin treatments also affected female behavior because many eggs were placed in the vials walls. Number of emerged adults (F1) was similar between DE and kaolin; hence, kaolin constitutes a promising tool to the management of Z. subfasciatus. The mixture of kaolin and neem oil was not efficient in the control of Z. subfasciatus.

O caruncho-do-feijão Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) é uma importante praga de grãos de feijão armazenado nas regiões tropicais. A eficiência do caulim [com ou sem óleo de nim (Azadirachta indica)] e terra diatomácea (TD) (tratamento padrão) foi estudada em laboratório com o intuito de obter alternativas para o controle químico deste inseto. Insetos foram confinados em frascos de plástico com feijão tratado com caulim (2, 4 e 8g kg-1), caulim + nim [2g kg-1(5 por cento óleo de nim)], terra diatomácea (1g kg-1) e controle. Mortalidade de insetos adultos, número de ovos e emergência da geração F1 foram avaliados. Caulim causou a mortalidade de Z. subfasciatus, porém foram necessários maiores períodos e doses que a TD para promover elevada mortalidade (100 por cento ou aproximadamente). Os tratamentos com caulim também afetaram o comportamento da fêmea, pois muitos ovos foram colocados nas paredes dos frascos. O número de adultos emergidos (F1) foi similar entre a TD e o caulim; portanto, caulim constitui uma ferramenta promissora para o manejo de Z. subfasciatus. A mistura de caulim e óleo de nim não foi eficiente no controle de Z. subfasciatus.